Milford developer lays out plans for Middle School East

Monday

MILFORD – Developers are close to finishing a draft zoning bylaw that would pave the way to transform the vacant Middle School East building into a proposed 30-unit apartment building.

Attorney Joseph Antonellis, representing Lobisser Building Corp., told selectmen Monday he is working closely with town officials to create a bylaw to rezone the 1.62-acre, 45 Main St. lot for residential use.

They are planning to have the bylaw up for Town Meeting consideration this spring and the proposal came together quickly, he said.

“My opinion is the school’s not helping anybody just sitting there, sitting there and sitting there,” company president Kevin Lobisser, said sitting aside an architectural rendering showing new greenery proposed at the site.

Selectmen, who unanimously voted Monday to accept Lobisser Building Corp.'s $115,000 bid for the property, said the 55-and-older resident apartment building could signal the beginning of a long-imagined vision to bring residential properties to Milford’s downtown.

“This is a big turning point for us and I’m glad to partner with you,” board Chairman William Kingkade said.

The plan would also benefit local history by incorporating the school’s original, 1919 building into its design, board members said.

“There’s a huge emotional attachment to that building as well and we’ve seen that, anyone involved has seen that, over the last 20 years on Town Meeting floor,” Kingkade said.

The apartment building was one of two proposals that developers presented to selectmen in response to a Request for Proposals, with the other bring a 20,000-square-foot commercial building.

Selectmen were supportive of each earlier this month, and praised renderings of the apartment facility, the only ones presented Monday night.

More greenery and landscaping are proposed around the building with a retainer wall planned for the corner of Main and Summer streets, plans indicate.

A top floor meeting or library room would offer scenic views, Lobisser said.

“Kevin sees this as a transitional building for those who want to sell their homes and stay in Milford,” Antonellis said.

As part of the renovation, the existing cafeteria and gymnasium building would be torn down, he said.

On-site parking would be accessible through Winter and Summer streets.

“I want it to be a building that when people from other towns drive in, say, ‘Wow what a great looking building that is,’” Lobisser said.

Selectman Michael Walsh said the building would bring people into the downtown area while still honoring the memories residents have of the building’s former use.

“You’ve kept the nostalgia there for the people of this community so I commend you for that. I really, really do,” he said. “It’s just, I never expected anything like this. This is over the top.”

Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN

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